the community newspaper for east oahu since 1987

Local author pens new book

Also heads writers' conference

by MICHELE VAN HESSEN
Sun Correspondent
*Archived August 2006 article

In the 1970s while on vacation in Maui, Rich Budnick decided to notify his California employer of his intent to quit so that he and his wife could move to Hawaii. With his B.A. degree in History and Political Science and an M.A. degree in Government, he was able to secure a job as a public information officer for Maui Mayor Hannibal Tavares. Then some years later, at the request of his wife, they moved to Oahu where Budnick continued his work as a public information officer for Governor Ben Cayetano.

Budnick became interested in writing in the late '80s. He knew that agents and publishing houses have their own best interests at heart and are rarely concerned with the author's interest, so he decided to self-publish. "You save yourself from lots of disappointments but self-publishing is not for everyone," said Budnick. He has published and sold thousands of copies of his books Maui Street Names, How to Get the Job You Want in Hawaii, Hawaiian Street Names, and Stolen Kingdom: An American Conspiracy.

For his latest book, Hawaii's Forgotten History 1900-1999: The Good, the Bad, the Embarrassing, Budnick compiled 2,001 facts that he felt have been overlooked or forgotten from 20th-century Hawaii incidents. Budnick has read 300 books on Hawaiian history and to resolve conflicting dates and accounts he pored through some 8,000 editions of The Honolulu Advertiser and other news sources. "Some of the facts are funny, a lot are shocking and I fell off my chair when I read some of them for the first time. I was literally stunned at how much I discovered that I did not know," said Budnick.

Hawaii's Forgotten History 1900-1999: The Good, the Bad, the Embarrassing is presented chronologically using a series of synopses and bite-sized bits of information covering crime, economy, education, immigration, land use, politics and war. In studying the front pages of thousands of newspapers, Budnick said he was struck by casual racist characterizations that today would be considered offensive. "Hawaiian history books are lacking and I'm hoping people will be intrigued by what they learn in by books and will want to find out more," said Budnick.

The Honolulu Writers' Conference was established by Budnick as a writing workshop and manuscript marketplace for writers and illustrators. Traditional publishers and agents accept only one to two percent of authors' submissions, and even if you are one of the "chosen" you may not make much money after printing, bookstore, distributor, wholesaler and other expenses are charged off. A writer's royalty is about $1.50 on a $14 book. After an initial book tour, the trainee marketing person is on to the next new author, and then your book disappears from the bookstore shelf unless you, personally, create a market for the book. Got questions on self-publishing? Call Rich Budnick about the next Honolulu Writers' Conference at (808) 395-1161 or e-mail alohapress@att.net. You can write the author at Aloha Press, 934 Wainiha, Honolulu 96825.